Diaspora: @ArtofBlackness (via @MetroBoardCUL)

Friday night I attended the Diaspora: Art of Blackness art show held at NYCH Gallery, a hidden gem on 18th Street in Pilsen. One of the featured artists of the night, Brian Golden, showcased 3 pieces of his work, with other artists adding their artistic take on the show's theme - - Art of Blackness. DJ Kwest_on held down the sounds, with a special performance by African drummers. The event was curated by Lashun Tines and overall a great night.

A steady stream of people were able to get together in the name of art, mixing and mingling with free drinks. Seriously - - it gets no better than that! I'm not sure how long the work will be on display at the gallery, but if you're in the area it's worth checking out.

Diaspora: The Art of Blackness Exhibition

"The Diaspora Exhibition was created to allow for a meeting of the minds between African American artists and design professionals. The exhibit's goal is to provide these artist with both an avenue of expression and an introduction to potential patrons and resources. Invited artists are encouraged to utilize their medium of choice (graphic design, photography, painting, etc) to depict their interpretation of the black experience in America."

What: Diaspora "The Art of Blackness" Exhibition
When: Friday, Feb 22nd, 2013
Where: NYCH/Robotic Minds Gallery 643 W. 18th St.
Time: 7-10 PM
Cost: FREE 99 (RSVP by clicking HERE)


The event will be curated by LaShun F. Tines and Phillip Scott, with Dj Kwest_on providing the sounds.

Artists 
Phillip Scott
Caliph Rasoul
James Nelson
Lonnie Garner  
Darno Demby  
Brian Golden 
Rashayla Marie Brown  
Keith Purvis  
Roger Carter 
Chevonne Woodard  
Ashley Mckinley  
David Anthony 
Thomas Williams

Bottle & Bottega: Art Uncorked in the South Loop (@bottlenbottega)

Bottle & Bottega puts a spin on the traditional art studio by hosting BYOB social art parties geared toward nurturing the inner artist in us all. With their latest location having opened last week in the South Loop, some much needed artistic flare has been added to Michigan Ave. Featuring a variety of classes (public as well as private/corporate), anyone looking to get their creative juices flowing and do something different should give Bottle & Bottega a try.

I was looking for something new in my neighborhood and a way to put a spin on date night. I did a little research and learned that Friday's class featured the theme: Couples and BFFs: Face-to-Face portrait painting. Lucas Myers was the featured artist of the night and guided our group as we tried our hand at painting.

It was my first time painting on canvas but it was a blast! We started off with a sketch and then dove in with acrylic paints. A few hours we were able to walk away with personalized artwork and a shared experience.

Our first time painting... 

At first I thought the price was a little steep ($35/person - but this varies depending on the class), but after experiencing the class it was well worth the price. I like that you get to experience something new with friends, it's BYOB, includes the cost of canvas/paint/etc, and at the end of the day you're able to walk away with a new piece of art work for your home! This alone made it well worth the price as I now have 2 new custom pieces on display at my apartment... and they have a fun story to go along with them.

There are many options for how to spend your Friday night, but I'd urge everyone to step outside the box and try something new. The class is the same price as dinner or a movie/drinks, so opt for something different and have some fun.

Overall the class was a nice mix of people and the instruction from Lucas was great. You can go online and view the schedule to pick the class that's right for you.

Who: Bottle & Bottega
What: Art Studio
Where: 1241 S. Michigan Ave.
When: Weekly Classes - check online schedule
Price: Varies (average $35-$45/person)